Five Chains, A to E
I’ve settled on a simple way to identify my pedal chains: A, B, C, D and E. No names, no fixed roles. They’re just different combinations of pedals, and what they do depends as much on the guitar, its controls, pick attack and fingers as on the pedals themselves.
A — FFM2 → Dynatrem
Jim Dunlop FFM2 Germanium Fuzz Face Mini Distortion is a touch-sensitive fuzz that responds to picking dynamics and the guitar’s volume control, moving from cleaner tones to overdrive and full fuzz without needing to adjust the pedal. The Keeley Electronics Dynatrem Dynamic Tremolo adds dynamic tremolo, reverb, and delay with controls for clean boost and noise-taming. Together, they offer dirt or fuzz when needed, movement and additional texture in a compact two-pedal setup.
B — DP-70 → H.B.E. Mimic Mock I
The Emanating Fist Electronics Dope Priest DP-70 issue 03 is a characterful fuzz with a thick, responsive voice that can be shaped through the guitar’s volume and playing dynamics. The Homebrew Electronics (H.B.E.) Mimic Mock I adds short delay repeats and slapback-style depth. This combination pairs an expressive dirt sound with a sense of space without requiring a complicated signal chain.
C — Beano Boost → Tchula → Special Request → Acapulco Gold → Fundamental Delay
The Analog Man Beano Boost Rangemaster is a Rangemaster-style treble booster that can push the signal into more pronounced overdrive. The Lovepedal Tchula provides a simple, responsive boost, and gritty overdrives, while the Greer Amps Special Request functions as the refiner, taming harsh tones, boosting cleans and even raising dirt levels. The EarthQuaker Devices Acapulco Gold delivers amplifier-inspired distortion, with its intensity responding to the pedal and guitar controls, and reaching fuzz levels when pushed. Finally, the Walrus Audio Fundamental Delay adds repeats and slapback-like effects. Despite having five pedals, the chain keeps much of its hands-on simplicity through its one-knob controls.
D — Green Russian Big Muff Pi → JuHoo EQ Box
The Electro-Harmonix Green Russian Big Muff Pi produces thick, sustaining fuzz with a substantial low end and a powerful voice of its own. The JuHoo EQ Box provides five frequency bands for adjusting the tonal balance after the fuzz, helping to shape the lows, mids and highs to suit the guitar and amplifier. Together, they make it possible to retain the Muff’s distinctive character while refining how it sits in the overall sound.
E — OB-28 → Bulldog Distortion
The Shin-Ei OB-28 Octave Box is a vintage analogue octave effect that adds distinctive octave tones to the guitar signal. Placing the VOX Cooltron Bulldog Distortion after it lets the distortion react to the octave-enhanced signal, producing thicker, more unusual textures. This is an intentionally simple, experimental pairing rather than a permanent everyday setup, ready to be pulled out whenever the mood calls for something different.
Bass Station — Orange Distortion
This simple orange brick in the Orange Distortion can clean boost the bass or take the tones to overdrive and fuzzy territories with only two knobs.
Other pedals unattached to chains:
- BOSS RC-10R
- TC Electronic Infinite Sample Sustainer
- Third Man Hardware Triple Threat Donner Effects (Standard Edition)
- Valeton GP-5
- JuHoo EQ Box